An unproductive attempt to tie TVA hands

Lamar Alexander has served Tennessee well during a long and successful career as governor, U.S. education secretary, college president and United States senator. It would be unfortunate if the most memorable aspect of his legacy involved tilting at windmills.

Alexander’s war on wind-generated electrical power is a disservice to future generations who will have to depend on clean, alternative, renewable sources of energy as finite coal, oil and natural gas sources diminish and prices rise.

His efforts to discourage the Tennessee Valley Authority from considering wind as an energy source suggest that he may be exceeding his oversight responsibilities for the utility, whose customers include Memphis area residents.

His advocacy of nuclear power as the path to a clean, reliable energy future flies in the face of reality for an industry whose excessive costs and troublesome technical issues prompted the recent decision by Westinghouse Electric Company, the would-be developer of several new nuclear plants in the South, to file for bankruptcy.

Meanwhile, the cost of wind power continues to decline, according to recent Department of Energy reports.

Alexander’s criticism of the industry dates back more than a decade and includes teaming up with the late Sen. Ted Kennedy in 2007 to end tax credits supporting wind power development.

Both senators owned property on Massachusetts' Nantucket Island, where an off-shore wind energy project was under development.

Alexander pointed out that his land was on the opposite side of the offshore power site and wind turbines would not be visible from his lot, a situation that would probably drive up property values in his neighborhood as landowners on the windmill side of the island sought unobstructed views.

Alexander told the Nashville Scene that speaking out against the wind farm was "probably against my own self-interest.” But, he added, "there are better ways to generate that kind of electricity.''

His latest attack came last week with a broadside against plans by the Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners' plan to build a $2 billion, 700-mile transmission line that would bring Oklahoma wind power across Arkansas to the Memphis area.

The Maryville Republican gets no argument here with his declaration that giant towers supporting wind turbines would be unsightly atop the scenic mountaintops of East Tennessee, but aesthetic arguments are much less persuasive on vast Western plains.

TVA has not committed to purchasing power from Clean Line, but having that option available for future use, if needed, could ultimately result in lower utility bills for TVA customers, not higher prices, as Alexander has argued repeatedly.

TVA, which provides power to nine million customers in parts of seven Southeastern states, “is on a good path," the senator said. "Its leadership has made sound decisions that will benefit ratepayers and our region."

There is every reason to believe that sound decision making will continue among the utility’s board and management, if their hands are not tied and their options remain open.